Minnesota State Patrol Rescue Captured on Video

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Minnesota State Patrol helicopter was used to rescue a hunter from a heavily wooded area in Pine County this week.

A statement from the State Patrol says the 61-year-old grouse hunter had been missing since Monday when the crew on the helicopter spotted his heat signature in the forest near the Minnesota-Wisconsin border late Wednesday night, but the loss of daylight prevented authorities from mounting a rescue mission.

Minnesota State Patrol photo

The State Patrol helicopter, with members of the St. Paul Fire Department serving as crewmembers, returned to the same area Thursday morning and hoisted the tired and hungry hunter out of the woods and carried him to safety.

Officials say the hunter, 61-year-old Robert Kniefel of Lakeville, appeared to be in good shape but was taken to a nearby hospital for an evaluation.

The State Patrol recorded the rescue and shared it through the YouTube video at the top of this post.